Safety fears as Japanese ‘tight men’ in silicone bodysuits transform into ‘women’ in public

There has been a phenomenon in Japan where men labeled as “tight men” wear silicone bodysuits and lifelike masks to look like women in public spaces.

The trend has raised safety concerns for real women.

Online sources suggest that their outfits were probably inspired by Animegao Kigurumia masked cosplay style rooted in Japanese anime culture.

Animegao Kigurumi aficionados typically wear bodysuits and anthropomorphic masks to more accurately represent their favorite anime characters.

In February, a video went viral on X showing a person dressed in a silicone bodysuit with a feminine-look mask sitting on the subway.

TikTok influencers conducting street interviews in the city also noticed the person occasionally walking by and looking into their camera.